Rod coupling



Sept. 10, 1929.

ROD COUPLING s Sheet s-Sheet Filed. April 9, 1928 Sept. 10, 1929-.

S. S. BRADSHAW ET AL ROD COUPLING Filed April 9, 1928 3 Sheet-Sheet 2 p 1929 s. s. BRADSHAW ET AL ROD COUPLING Filed April 9, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WQ J Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL SIDNEY BRADSHAW AND CHARLES ALBERT MARTINDALE, OF SEMINOLE, OKLAHOMA.

ROD COUPLING.

Application filed April 9,

The present invention relates to improvements in red joints and couplings and has reference more particularly to a device for facilitating the connection of the adjacent ends of sucker rods in a positive and eflicient manner.

At the present time the adjacent ends of sucker rods used in pumping operations are connected together by screw-threaded couplings and this necessitates the loss of considerahlelime and labor in connecting or disconnecting the adjacent ends of the rods.

Furthermore when the adjacent ends of sucker rods are frequently screwed together or unscrewed. the rods will 'stallize or break off and oftentimes neces es a fishing operation and in some instances causing a junked well.

It is therefore one of the principal objects ot' the present invention to provide a rod coupling which will eliminate the use of threaded connections between the adjacent ends of the sucker rod. the coupling being of such construction as to at all times insure the positive operation of the sucker rod in carrying out the drilling or pumping of a well.

A further object is to provide a rod cou pling of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction. inexpensive, strong and durable and Further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanving drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rod coupling embodying our invention showing the manner in which the adjacent ends of a pair of sucker rods are operatively associated with the coupling.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view. parts being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation and partly in section showing the sucker rods in the act of being uncoupled Figure 4 is a sectional view taken approxi- 1928. Serial No. 268,521.

mately on the line 4-4l of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the elongated body of the coupling.

Figure 6 is a similar section taken at right angles to Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the headed screw for association with the inner end of one of the sucker rods.

Figure 8 is a tragurentary side elevation oi the inner end portion of the complementary sucker rod.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of one if the shims.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, the numerals 1 and 2 designate a pair of adjacent sucker rods. A flange or shoulder 3 is formed on the Sucker rod 1 adjacent the inner end thereof, a similar flange or shoulder 4 being "formed on the complementary sucker rod 2 adjacent its inner end. The purpose of these flanges or shoulders will he hereinafter more fully described.

The inner end of the sucker rod 1 is formed with a longitudinally extending threaded socket 5 for receiving the screw 6, the outer end of which is formed with a rounded head 7. and the flat inner face of this head is provided with a tool engaging portion 8. The specific construction of the screw and the rounded head formed on one end thereof is clearly shown in Figure 7. A ring-like member 9 is arranged at the inner end of the sucker rod 1 and is formed with threads in the bore thereof to accommodate the screw 6.

For the purpose of taking up loose play, suitable shims such as are shown at 10 in Figure 9 may he placed on the screw 6 for disposition between the tool engaging portion 8 of the rounded head 7 and the ringlike mcmher 9, and this arrangement is more clearly disclosed in Figure 2.

The inner end portion of each sucker rod. is circular in cross section whereas the outer end portion of the sucker rods outwardly of the flanges or the shoulders 3 and 4, respectively, are substantially rectangular.

Ill

Formed on the inner end of the sucker rod 2 is the block 11, the same being enlarged and having its inner and outer faces concaved as shown at 12 and 13 respectively with reference more particularly to Figure 8. The purpose of constructing the inner and outer faces of the enlarged block in this manner will also hereinafter he more fully described.

The coupling forming a salient part of the present invention is shown generally at 11 and the same com n' ses an elongated cylindrical hody 15 that is formed with a longitudinal slot 16 for the full length thereof, said slot extending inwardly from one side of the body to a point adjacent the opposite side, and this construction of the body is very clearly illustrated in Figure of the drawings.

One pair of diagonally opposed corners of the cylindrical body are cut away to provide the inclined faces 17 and 18, respec' tively. Furthermore, the intermediate portion of the slot 1.6 is cut out to form the enlarged socket 19 wherehy to form shoulders 20 and 21 at the respective ends of the socket 19, and as is more clearly illustrated in Figure .3 the shoulders 20 are straight, while the shoulders 21 are curved for the purpose of cooperating with the concaved innor face '12 of the enlarged head 11 formed on the inner end of the sucker rod 2.

A set screw 22 extends transversely through one side of the cylindrical body 15 adjacent one end thereof, a similar set screw 23 extending transversely through the same side of the cylindrical body adjacent the other ens as clearly shown in. Figure 2. The inner ends of these set screws extend into the slot 16, and furthermore are adapted for disposition in the longitudinal grooves 24 and 25, respectively, which grooves are formed in the rounded inner end portions of the respective sucker rods.

The purpose of this arrangement is to provide a means for preventing rotation of the sucker rods with respect to the coupling 14. However, the set screw 23 may he disengaged from the groove 25 to permit the sucker rod 1 to he swivelly mounted in one end of the coupling if so desired. The set screw .22 cooperates with the groove 2 to provide a pivotal support for the inner end portion of the complementary sucker rod 2 and said sucker rod 2 will he capahle of swinging movement in the slot, and as is clearly shown in Figure 5 the end portion of the cylindrical hody in which the inner end portion of the sucker rod is disposed has the inner wall of the slot cut away as.

In assembling the parts so that the ad jacent ends of the sucker rods are connected together, the inner end of the sucker rod 2 is disposed in. the slotted cylindrical body 15 in which the outer end portion of the slot enlarged so that the head engaging block 11 will be disposed in the enlarged socket 19. The set screw 22 is then turned to move the inner end thereof into engagement with the longitudinal groove 2%, thus securing the inner end portion of the sucker rod 2 in position in the slot for swinging movement only, the set screw forming trunnion for the rounded end portion the sucker rod and the inner conca-ved face 12 of the block 11 will engage with the rounded shoulders 21.

The inner end portion of the complementary sucker rod 1. disposed in the opposite end of the slot 16 so that the outer face of the ring like member 9 will engage with the straight shoulders 20 and the rounded head 7 will he disposed in the enlarged socket 19 for cooperation with the concaved outer face 13 of the enlarged block 11. The beveled faces 17 and 18 will permit the sucker rods to he moved laterally with respect to the cylindrical body of a coupling so that when the sucker rods are disposed in the same plane and are in alinement with each other, the inner opposed faces-of the flanges or shoulders 3 will engage with the straight faces of the respective ends of the cylindrical body as shown in Figure 1 and the head 7 will he in proper engagement with the concaved outer face 13 of the enlarged head 11 as also shown in Figure 1'. In this manner the sucker rods will he operatively connected together and in such a manner as to prevent accidental uncoupling of the rods during the use of the rods in the well.

The shims 10 will take up lost motion hetween the rounded head and the concaved outer race of the block 11 well as the con caved inner face of the block and the rounded shoulders 21.

The sucker rods may he uncoupled hy swinging the rods outwardly of the slots and removing the set screws from engagement with the respective sucker rods.

lVhen the set screw 23 is removed, and the sucker rods are disposed in alinement with each other the sucker rod 1 is capahle of rotation in the coupling. However, when the set screw 23 is positioned in cooperation with the longitudinal groove 25, the sucker rod 1 is locked in the coupling against rotation.

It will thus he seen from the foregoing description that we have provided a rod coupling for connecting the adjacent ends of the sucker rods in a quick detachable manner and when the parts are assembled the rods cannot heroine accidentally disengaged from the coupling.

A rod coupling of the above mentioned character will at all times he strong and durahle and can furthermore he manufactured at a very low cost.

While we have shown the preferred one bodiment of our invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention. what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a coupling for sucker rods. an elongated body formed with a longitudinal slot in one side thereof, the intermediate portion of the slot being enlarged to form a socket and shoulders at the opposite ends of the socket, pair of sucker rods having their inner opposed ends arranged in t e slots, and cooperating means between the inner opposed ends of the rods for maintaining the rods in longitudinal alinement, and shoulders formed on the rods .(l in engagement with the respective e l of the body to further maintain the rods in allurment with each other.

2. In a coupling for sucker rods, :re el ngated body formed with a longitu inal s ot in one side thereof, the lI1tC1lll0(.. e portion of the slot being enlarged to form a socket and shoulders at the oppo ite ends of the socket, a pair of sucker rods having their inner opposed ends arranged in the slots, cooperating means between the inner opposed ends of the rods for maintaining the rods in longitudinal alinenient, said means comprising ablock carried by the inner end of one sucker rod and dis posed in the aforementioned socket. the outor face of the block being concaved, and a convex head carried by the inner end the other rod in engagement with the coucaved outer face of the block.

3. In a coupling for sucker rods, an elongated body formed with a longitudinal slot in one side thereof, the intermediate portion of the slot being enlarged to provide a socket. shoulders formed at the opposite ends of the socket, the shoulders at one end of the socket being convex, a pair of sucker rods, the inner end portions of said rods being disposed within the respective ends of the slot, an enlarged block carried by the inner end of one rod and disposed in sa d socket, the inner and outer faces of the blocks being concaved, the concaved inner face cooperating with the rounded shoulders, a pin carried by the inner end of the other rod, a convened head formed on the outer end of the pin in engagement with the outer concaved face of the block, and shoulders formed on the sucker rods and in engagement with the respective ends of the body to retain the 1OC.S in alineinent with each other.

4-. In a coupling for sucker rods, an elongated body formed with a longitudinal slot in one side thereof, the intermediate portion of the slot being enlarged to provide a socket, shoulders formed at the opposite ends of the socket, the shoulders at one end of the socket beingconvex, a pair of sucker rods, the inner end portions of said rods being disposed within the respective ends of the slot, an enlarged block carried by the inner end of one rod and disposed in said socket, the inner and outer faces of the blocks being concaved, the concaved inner face cooperating with the rounded shoulders, a pin carried by the inner end of the other rod, a convexed head formed on the outer end of the pin in engagement with the outer concaved face of the block, shoulders formed on the sucker rod and in engagement with the respective ends of the body to retain the rods in alinement with each other, one of said rods being pivotally secured at its inner end portion in the elongated body.

5. In a coupling for sucker rods, an elongated body formed with a longitudinal slot in one side thereof, the intermediate p01- iion of the slot being enlarged to provide a socket, shoulders formed at the opposite ends of the socket, the shoulders at one end of the socket oeing convex, a pair of sucker rods. the inner end portions being disposed within, the respective ends of the slot, an enlarged block carried by the inner end of one rod and disposed in said socket, the inner and outer faces of the blocks being concaved, the concaved inner face cooperating with the rounded shoulders, a pin carried by the inner end of the other rod, a convex head formed on the outer end of the pin for engagement with the outer concaved face of the block, and shoulders formed on the sucker rod for engagement with the respective ends of the body to retain the rods in alinement with each other, and means on the pin between the convex head and adjacent shoulders of the socket for taking up lost motion between the head and the concaved outer face of the block.

6. In a coupling for sucker rods, an elongated body formed with a longitudinal through-slot in one side thereof, the ends of the body having flat straight faces, the intermediate portion of the slot being cut out to form an enlarged socket, shoulders at the opposite ends of the socket, one of the shoulders being convex, a pair of sucker rods having their inner ends disposed in the respective ends of the slots, a block formed on the inner end of one rod and disposed in said socket, the inner and outer faces of the block being concaved, the inner face cooperating with the convex shoulder, a pin carried by the inner end of the other rod, a convex head on the outer end of the pin and engaging with the concaved outer face of the block, means on the pin in engagement with the other shoulder, and. shoulders formed on the rods outwardly of the elongated body, said shoulders engaging the flat straight faces of the ends of the body for securing the rods in alinement with each other.

7.- In a coupling for sucker rods, an elongated body formed With a longitudinal throughslot in one side thereof, the ends of the body having flat straight faces, the intermediate portion of the slot being cut out to form an enlarged socket, shoulders at the opposite ends of the socket, one of the shoulders being convert, a pair of sucker rods having their inner ends disposed in the respective ends of the slots, a block formed on the inner ends of one rod and disposed in said socket, the inner and outer faces of the block being concaved, the inner face cooperating With the convex shoulder, a pin carried by the inner end. of the other rod, a convex head on the outer end of the pin and engaging with the concaved outer face of the block, means on the pin in gragement with the other shoulder, and shoulders formed on the roos outwardly of the elongated body, said shoulders engage ing the flat straight faces of the ends of the body for securing the rods in alinement with each other, one of the sucker rods being secured at its inner end portion in the body for pivotal movement.

In testimony whereof We atfix our signatures.

SAMUEL SIDNEY BRADSHAlV. CHARLES ALBERT MARTINDALE. 

